ASA SB | Advisory Board

Lynn Kern Koegel, PhD, Clinical Director of Autism Research and Training Center at the University of California Santa Barbara

Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel is one of the world's foremost experts on the treatment of autism.  She and her husband founded the renowned Autism Research Center at the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she is currently the clinical director.  She holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology and an M.A. in speech and hearing sciences.  She lectures frequently at universities, conferences, schools, and parent organizations.  Dr. Koegel is co-author of the newly released Viking/Penguin book "Overcoming Autism."

Earl H. Lynch, MD, MPH, Deputy Health Officer/Medical Director, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Barbara, CA

Dr. Lynch, a Fellow of the American Academy of Preventive Medicine, is currently Deputy Health Officer/Medical Director, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Barbara, CA. Dr. Lynch co-founded and was the President and Medical Director of The Center for Integrative Medicine, a health and wellness corporation.  Dr. Lynch has, also, served in the following capacities: Program and Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Program at Marywood University, Pennsylvania Department of Health Tuberculosis Control Clinician, Epidemiology Consultant, and Sports Medicine Clinic director.  He emphasizes, however, that the position he considers the most challenging, socially important and personally gratifying is that of a father of three boys.Tom McCool, Ed.D, Vice-President of Development, Devereux

Since 1996 Dr. McCool has served as the Vice President of Development and Government Relations for Devereux California.  From 1985 to 1996 Dr. McCool was the Executive Director of Devereux California with responsibility for Clinical, Residential, Recreational, and Educational/Vocational Programs for 235 developmentally disabled children and adults. Dr. McCool holds a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Education Degree. Currently Dr. McCool is a gubernatorial appointee to the California Interagency Coordinating Council, is a Founding Commissioner of the National Commission on Accreditation of Special Education Services, and serves on the MIND Institute Advisory Board.  He is also a member of the National Association of Dual Diagnosis (NADDD); the Autism Society of America, and the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (NAPSEC).George Singer PhD,  UCSB Gervitz School of Education Professor of Special Education

Dr. Singer is a professor of Special Education at the University in California, Santa Barbara.  His central research and teaching concerns have focused on families of children with disabilities.  Prior to joining the faculty at UCSB, he worked as a Research Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute where he directed several model demonstration and research projects.  He was the Director of the Hood Center for Family Support at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical School.Mr. Thomas E. Tighe, President and CEO, Direct Relief International

Thomas Tighe is President and CEO of Direct Relief International (DRI), a nonprofit humanitarian medical relief organization, since October 2000.  Tighe served as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Thailand from 1986-1988, after completing law school and being admitted to the California State Bar. Tighe came to Direct Relief International in October, 2000 from the Peace Corps Headquarters, Washington, D.C., where he served as Chief-of-Staff and Chief Operating Officer from 1995 -2000. Tighe also served two years as Associate General Counsel of the Peace Corps.  Tighe was raised in Palo Alto, California, is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the U.C. Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.  Since Thomas’ arrival DRI was named one of America’s Best 100 Charities by Worth magazine and rated by Forbes magazine as one of only four U.S. charities that is 100% efficient.